Fjallsárlón

About Fjallsárlón

Fjallsárlón is a glacier lagoon in Southeast Iceland where the Fjallsjökull outlet glacier slides down from Vatnajökull straight into the water. Icebergs that break off its front drift slowly across the lagoon toward the shore, and the glacier wall stands much closer to the viewpoints than it does at its famous neighbor.

Jökulsárlón, about 10 km farther east along the Ring Road, gets the crowds. Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon is smaller, but the ice is closer and the shoreline is usually calmer, so it earns a stop even if Jökulsárlón is already on your list. If you only have time for one and want icebergs washing up on black sand, pick Jökulsárlón; for the Fjallsárlón glacier itself, pick this one.

The lagoon sits just off Route 1, roughly 4.5 to 5 hours' drive from Reykjavík depending on conditions, or about 30 minutes east of Skaftafell. Parking is free, and a short walk leads from the lot to the shore and viewpoints. The service building holds the boat tour desk and the FROST restaurant.

The best way to see the ice up close is from the water. In 2026 the operator runs a 75-minute iceberg boat tour from April to November for 11,300 ISK per person, plus a private boat, a 2-hour luxury trip and, from June to September, a glacier hike combined with a boat tour for 29,900 ISK. Book ahead in summer, when departures fill.

You can visit the shore all year, though winter storms on this stretch of the Ring Road can slow or close the route, so check the official road-conditions map and the forecast before driving. Allow 30 minutes for a walk along the shore, or about 2 hours with a boat tour. Stay off the shoreline ice and well away from stranded icebergs, which can roll or break without warning.